Disaster (Flood News

Spring Flooding Could Swell North Dakota Lake by 50 Square Miles

The cost of flood control in North Dakota’s Devils Lake region has surpassed $1 billion, but the worst could be yet to come this spring if forecast predictions of rises in the lake’s level prove accurate, cautions Paul Todhunter, University …

Oklahoma Cat Response Team Includes State Officials, Industry Members

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has formed a catastrophe response task force to coordinate efforts of the department and the industry in the aftermath of the recent winter storm. “This is the first time the department has joined with the …

Judge Defends Spill Decision That Upset Louisiana AG

A federal judge said Jan. 28 that he wasn’t trying to deprive states of their rights when he appointed Alabama’s newly elected attorney general to coordinate all states’ interests in the litigation spawned by the Gulf oil spill. “No such …

Australia Flood Damage Seen as Long-term; Rail, Road Links Destroyed

Australia’s flood-stricken coal industry may be disrupted for months after key rail and road links were washed away, while some infrastructure could take years to repair, authorities said on Friday. The floods have swamped mines in Queensland State, paralyzing operations …

BP’s Gulf Spill Costs Look Manageable 8 Months Later

As the Gulf oil spill gushed out of control, BP’s financial liabilities seemed big enough to sink the company. No more. Cleanup, government fines, lawsuits, legal fees and damage claims will likely exceed the $40 billion that BP has publicly …

How to Fix Nation’s Flood Insurance Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking a top-to-bottom review of the efforts to reform the nation’s flood insurance program. The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has offered a set of reform proposals designed to improve the …

Insurance Vital to Alabama Coast Long-Term Plan, Says Commission

Coastal Alabama should seize the BP Gulf oil disaster as an opportunity for “resiliency planning” that will not only help the region recover from the oil damage but also put it in a position to better recover from any future …

Hermine Surprises Texas, Oklahoma with Extensive Flooding

Tropical Storm Hermine, which swept through Texas on Sept. 7 and into Oklahoma on Sept. 8, surprised forecasters by retaining tropical storm strength long after it was expected to decline. The storm resulted in extensive flooding, several funnel cloud sightings …

Florida Cabinet Delays Hurricane Fund Assessments

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund needs $710 million to continue to pay claims still coming in from 2005’s Hurricane Wilma but it is going to have to wait to assess policyholders to get those funds. The Florida Cabinet yesterday indicated …

Katrina Flooding Victims’ Lawsuit Against Corps of Engineers Begins

Arguments began April 20 in a lawsuit filed by New Orleans residents and a business who claim the Army Corps of Engineers owes them damages because of the massive flooding after Hurricane Katrina that stirred up the waters and washed …